History

Our Association came into existence in 1963 when a small group of concerned parents and citizens began working together to provide services for individuals with a developmental disability. The Association’s first endeavor was to open a school on Radar Road in September of 1963. In 1964, they opened the Valley School on Regional Road 15 across the highway from where Grandview Residence is now situated. Both schools were taken over by the Sudbury Board of Education in 1969.

Their next large project, Grandview Residence was opened in 1970. Construction costs were borne by the Association and by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. An active fundraising campaign, volunteer labour and generous donations from local service clubs made this project a reality. Following construction, one of the volunteers looked out the window admiring the scenery at the back and stated "Oh my..what a grand view!". From that moment on, everyone referred to this home as Grandview….and to this day it still has a beautiful view and that name.

In 1987, the Association undertook its first day program for adults with a developmental disability. The program was born out of the need to provide day program services for those individuals being repatriated from Muskoka Regional Centre. The Valley Vocational Alternatives program, located in Blezard Valley, served as a model for the future day program developments by the Association.

Our Association has continued to evolve and grow through the years. We have undergone three name changes. We began in 1963 as the Valley Association for the Mentally Retarded. In 1991 in keeping with current trends and respecting the dignity of the people we serve, we became the Valley & District Association for Community Living. In 2000, we became Greater Sudbury Association for Community Living to better reflect the area that we served. Once again in 2003, we underwent another name change to Community Living Greater Sudbury/Integration Communautaire Grand Sudbury. All Associations affiliated with Community Living Ontario will be listed as Community Living followed by the name of the respective chapter, allowing easier search and access to people with developmental challenges in need of our services, across Ontario.

Our staffing compliment consists of approximately 250 employees. In March 2000, our support workers became members of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, Local 676. On January 24, 2001, our association and the Union signed our first collective agreement.